Starch-polyester biodegradable graft copolyers and a method of preparation thereof

ABSTRACT

A starch-polyester graft copolymer and chemically modified starch-polyester graft copolymer composition comprising a chemically modified starch or chemically modified starch-nanoclay product is described. The composition can be produced continuously in a twin-screw co-rotating extruder. The starch-polyester graft copolymer can be solvent cast, melt cast and blown into clear transparent film particularly for use in single use disposable applications and can be biodegradable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to starch-polyester graft copolymers. The present invention particularly relates to a chemically modified starch-polyester graft copolymer and a chemically modified starch-nano clay polyester graft copolymer. A process of making these graft copolymers using reactive processing such as reactive extrusion is disclosed. The starch-polyester graft copolymers have improved processability, surface properties, and an extended range of mechanical properties.

(2) Description of Related Art

Plastic packaging is subjected to pressure from existing and proposed environmental and disposal regulations, and market based sustainability initiatives. It presents a major disposal problem for companies and municipalities as it is lightweight and bulky and so does not lend itself to a viable economic and environmentally responsible recycling operation due to expensive handling and transportation costs. It is not biodegradable, which makes disposal in soil or composting operations untenable. Further, issues such as sustainability, industrial ecology, biodegradability, and recyclability are becoming major considerations in a company's product packaging design, especially with single use disposable packaging. Natural biopolymers provide biodegradable, sustainable solutions for the manufacture of short-life, single use disposable packaging, consumer goods, and marine plastics. Starch, an anhydroglucose polymer, offers a structural platform to manufacture sustainable, biodegradable packaging. Examples of patents that disclose the manufacture of starch and blends of starch and other polymers include U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,438 to Wittwer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,054 to Lay et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,711 to Tokiwa et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,774 to Bahr et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,611 to Stepto et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,564 to Stepto et al. Lately, there have been business reports of the use of thermoplastic starch (TPS) as a component in multi phase blends (W. Wiedmann, and E. Strobel, Starch, 43, 138 (1991); R. L. Shorgen, G. F. Fanta, and W. M. Doan, Starch, 45, 276 (1993); P. Forssell, J. Mikkila, and T. Sourtti, J. M. S. Pure Appl. Chem., A33, 703 (1996); R. Narayan, Polymers from Agricultural Co products, ACS Symp Ser. (1994); and J. J. G. Van Soest, K. Benes, and D.de. Wit, Polymer, 37, 3543 (1996). Still others have manufactured thermoplastic starch blends in which native starch is initially blended with a small quantity of water and a less volatile plasticizer such as glycerin in order to form starch melts that are subjected to a degassing procedure prior to cooling and solidification in order to remove substantially all of the water therefrom. Examples of such patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,412,005, 5,280,055, 5,288,765, 5,262,458, 5,462,980 and 5,512,378 to Bastioli et al.

Starch granules exhibit hydrophilic properties and strong inter-molecular association via hydrogen bonding due to the hydroxyl groups on the granule surface. The hydrophilicity and thermal sensitivity render the starch polymer unsuitable for thermoplastic applications. In this respect, some authors have emphasized on finding the optimal polymer or mixture of polymers and other admixtures in order to thereby “optimize” the properties of the starch. One drawback is that most of the polymers and other admixtures are themselves significantly more expensive than starch, which tends to increase the cost of such polymer blends compared to starch melts. Another drawback is that such additives will only be able to marginally alter the mechanical properties of the starch/polymer blends when viewed from a materials science perspective.

In order to improve on these drawbacks, graft copolymerization of vinyl monomer on the starch backbone was used to modify starch. Fanta and Bagley have reviewed the synthesis and discussed some applications of starch graft copolymers (G. F. Fanta and E. B. Bagley, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science, John Wiley & Sons: New York (1970); and G. F. Fanta, Block and Graft Copolymers-Vol I, John Wiley & Sons: New York (1973). Otey et al. (F. H. Otey, R. P. Westhoff and W. M. Doane, Industrial Engineering Chemistry Products Research Development, 19, 592 (1980); F. H. Otey and R. P. Westhoff, Industrial Engineering Chemistry Products Research Development, 23, 284 (1984); and F. H. Otey, R. P. Westhoff and W. M. Doane, Industrial Engineering Chemistry Products Research Development, 26, 1659 (1987)) blended starch with poly (ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (EAA). In these papers, the authors suggested the formation of hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic group in EAA and the hydroxyl group in starch. Increasing the level of starch decreased the percentage elongation of the film and increased the diffusion rate of water. Similar complexes like EAA can also be formed with the hydroxyl groups of the polyethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer. They report a reaction between the anhydride group in the synthetic polymer with the —OH groups of starch. U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,983 to Bloembergen at al. reports on blends and alloys containing lignocelluloses like starch, cellulose acetate etc. U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,934 to Tomka et al. provides a process to produce a polyolefin-starch polymer blend. Ethylene/acrylate/maleic anhydride terpolymer was used as a compatibilizer. These blends were reported to be blown into film with properties comparable to LDPE. U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,977 to Bastioli et al. discloses a material used for the production of biodegradable articles in film, sheet or fiber form, which can be produced by extrusion from a molten mass that includes a synthetic thermoplastic polymer and a destructured starch to which a boron containing compound such as boric acid has been added. U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,899 to Bastioli et al. discloses a polymeric composition comprising filler melt-dispersed in a matrix comprising, a destructurized starch component, a synthetic thermoplastic polymeric component and a fluidizing agent. U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,005 to Bastioli et al. discloses biodegradable polymeric compositions containing a starch based component and a polymeric component, preferably polymers of ethylene-vinyl alcohol or polyvinylalcohol.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,235,816 and 6,472,497 describe starch polyester blends.

Other references are:

-   (1) Ramani Narayan, Steven Bloembergen and Amit Lathia, A Method of     Preparing Biodegradable Modified-Starch Moldable Products and Films,     U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,647, Feb. 9, 1999, July 1993; -   (2) Narayan, R., Biodegradable Multi-Component Polymeric Materials     Based on Unmodified Starch-Like Polysaccharides, U.S. Pat. No.     5,500,465, Oct. 31, 1995; -   (3) Narayan, R., Krishnan, M., DuBois, P., Polysaccharides Grafted     With Aliphatic Polyesters Derived From Cyclic Esters, U.S. Pat. No.     5,540,929, Jul. 30, 1996; -   (4) Narayan, R., Krishnan, M., DuBois, P., Polysaccharides Grafted     With Aliphatic Polyesters Derived From Cyclic Esters, U.S. Pat. No.     5,578,691, Nov. 26, 1996; -   (5) Narayan, R., Krishnan, M., DuBois, P., Polysaccharides Grafted     With Aliphatic Polyesters Derived From Cyclic Esters, U.S. Pat. No.     5,616,671,Apr. 1, 1997; -   (6) Narayan, R., Balakrishnan, S., Nabar, Y., Shin, B., Dubois, P.,     Raquez, J., Chemically Modified Plasticized Starch Compositions by     Extrusion Processing, U.S. Pat. No. 7.153.354 (U.S. patent     application Ser. No. 10/993,309, co-filed with the present     application on Nov. 19, 2004 (hereinafter the “copending     application”)), which is incorporated herein by reference.

OBJECTS

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide novel grafted starch polyester compositions which have novel properties. It is further an object of this invention to provide economical and reproducible compositions. These and other objects will become increasingly apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a starch-polyester graft copolymer composition comprising starch or chemically modified starch with segments of a polyester grafted onto the starch. Preferably the chemically modified starch is a starch which is thermoplastic. Preferably the composition comprises about 0.5 to 10% by weight of the composition of a plasticizer. Preferably the composition contains natural or an organically modified nanoclay. Preferably the starch is selected from the group consisting of corn, potato, wheat, rice, sago, tapioca, waxy maize, sorghum, cassava, and high amylose starch. Preferably the chemically modified plasticized starch (CMPS) is prepared from a reactively extruded 50% to 80% by weight of the starch, a chemical modifier from 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the starch, a plasticizer from 10 to 50 wt-% of the composition, and optionally a free radical initiator in an amount ranging between 0.01 to 2.0 wt % of the composition. Preferably the chemically modified plasticized starch (CMPS) is prepared from a blend comprising starch polymer, from 50% to 80% by weight, a chemical modifier from 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the starch polymer, more preferably from 2% to 5% by weight of the starch, a plasticizer from 10 to 50 wt-% of the composition, a nanoclay, wherein the nanoclays are added in an amount ranging from 0.5 to 25 wt% of the total composition. Preferably the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols like glycerol, sorbitol, and ethylene glycol. Preferably the modifier is selected from the group consisting of dibasic acids or their anhydrides. Preferably the composition contains a free radical initiator. Preferably the free radical initiator is a peroxide. Preferably the composition contains a nanoclay selected from a group consisting of montmorillonite, smectite, hectorite, and mixtures thereof. Preferably the composition is completely biodegradable. Preferably the composition has been grafted in a melt phase in an extruder. Preferably the composition has been grafted in a twin screw extruder at a temperature in the range of 100° C.-200° C.

The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a starch polyester graft co-polymer composition which comprises blending a mixture of an organic acid or anhydride of the acid with starch or a chemically modified starch and a polyester polymer at a temperature which grafts the segments of a polyester onto the starch to form the composition.

Most preferably the present invention relates to a starch based copolymer composition which comprises a reactively extruded mixture of a biodegradable starch polymer, a chemical modifier selected from the group consisting of a dibasic organic acid, an organic anhydride of a dibasic organic acid and mixtures thereof, a plasticizer, a biodegradable polyester resin, a nanoclay, and optionally a free radical initiator, wherein the mixture has been extruded, with heating and venting of water from the mixture.

Most preferably the present invention also relates to a process for preparing a starch based composition which comprises reactively extruding a mixture which comprises a reactively extruded mixture of a biodegradable starch polymer, a chemical modifier selected from the group consisting of a dibasic organic acid, an organic anhydride of a dibasic organic acid and mixtures thereof, a plasticizer, a biodegradable polyester resin, a nanoclay, and optionally a free radical initiator, wherein the mixture has been extruded, with heating and venting of water from the mixture.

In the present invention the mechanism of reaction is that the fragments of a polyester resin from the processing react with hydroxyl groups of the starch. The acid or anhydride reacts with the polyester polymer to produce the reactive fragments. Thus the present invention provides a unique composition with the fragments of the polyester polymer bonded to the starch.

The present invention particularly provides new amphiphilic, starch-polyester graft copolymer and chemically modified starch-polyester graft copolymer compositions comprising a chemically modified starch or chemically modified starch-nanoclay product produced continuously in a twin-screw co-rotating extruder. The chemically modified plasticized starch product with lower viscosity and good processability and the chemically modified plasticized starch-nano clay product is described in the copending patent application. The starch-polyester graft copolymers of the present invention can be readily blown, extrusion cast into film, and molded. Examples of biodegradable polyesters include poly(caprolactone) (PCL), poly(vinylacetate-co-vinylalcohol) (PVAc/VA), poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA), poly(glycolic acid) or polyglycolide (PGA), and related copolyesters including the various combinations of stereoisomers, bacterial and synthetic poly(.beta.-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), Poly(.beta.-hydroxybutyrate-co-.beta.-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/V), and other poly(.beta.-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA), biodegradable aliphatic polyesters, and aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters. Preferably the polyester is selected from the group consisting of the composition in which the polyester is selected from the group consisting of:

where R is lower alkyl and aromatic groups containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms; n is 0 to 10; and x is 200 to 2000; and

where a, b and m are 2 to 8; and x/y is between 3/2 and 10/1.

The present invention provides new polymeric materials, which are environmentally responsible and fully biodegradable as per ASTM standards.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a biodegradable moldable product or film prepared from a graft copolymer containing starch or chemically modified starch or chemically modified starch-nano clay composition and a polyester, which is preferably biodegradable. It has been found that new starch-polyester graft copolymers with good elongation, compressibility and surface properties.

In one embodiment of this invention, starch is extruded with aliphatic-aromatic co-polyester and particularly poly butylenes (adipate-co-terephthalate) in the presence of maleic acid as a trans-esterification catalyst to form starch-polyester graft copolymers compositions with good elongation, compressibility and surface properties. In another embodiment chemically modified starch or a chemically modified starch-nano clay product has been reacted with aliphatic and aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters to provide new graft copolymer products with enhanced properties and processability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an extrusion apparatus for the production of polyester grafted starch.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are drawings depicting the screw configuration used for the reactive extrusion production of the novel graft copolymers. The screw configuration is divided into three sections (FIG. 2A) followed by (FIG. 2B) and further followed by (FIG. 2C).

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the FTIR results of graft copolymers of ECOFLEX™, (poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)), obtained from BASF (Germany), with plasticized starch (PS). To validate the reactivity, FTIR scans of pure ECOFLEX™, PS and ECOFLEX™/PS blend (without the catalyst) are also shown.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the FTIR results of graft copolymers of ECOFLEX™ with CMPS (made using both maleic anhydride and maleic acid modifiers). To validate the reactivity, FTIR scans of pure ECOFLEX™ and regular cornstarch are also shown.

FIG. 5 shows bar graphs depicting tensile strength values of ECOFLEX™, graft copolymer of ECOFLEX™ with CMPS, graft copolymer of cross-linked ECOFLEX™ with CMPS, graft copolymer of ECOFLEX™ with PS and LDPE.

FIG. 6 shows bar graphs depicting modulus of elasticity values of ECOFLEX™, graft copolymer of ECOFLEX™ with CMPS, graft copolymer of cross-linked ECOFLEX™ with CMPS, graft copolymer of ECOFLEX™ with PS and LDPE.

FIG. 7 shows bar graphs depicting break elongation values of ECOFLEX™, graft copolymer of ECOFLEX™ with CMPS, graft copolymer of cross-linked ECOFLEX™ with CMPS, graft copolymer of ECOFLEX™ with PS and LDPE.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The starting starch material useful in this invention can be any of several starches, native or modified. Such starches include those derived from any plant source including corn, potato, wheat, rice, sago, tapioca, waxy maize, sorghum and high amylose starch, i.e., starch having at least 40% and more particularly at least 65% by weight of amylose content, such as high amylose corn, etc. Starch flours can also be used as a starch source. Also included are the conversion products derived from any of the former bases including, for example, dextrin prepared by hydrolytic actions of acid and/or heat; oxidized starches prepared by treatment with oxidants such as sodium hypochlorite; fluidity or thin boiling starches prepared by enzyme conversion or mild acid hydrolysis; and derivatized and crosslinked starches. The starch percentage in the final blend is 5% to 45% by weight and preferably from 10% to 30% by weight.

The plasticizers are polyhydric alcohols, preferably glycerol sorbitol, ethylene glycol and mixtures thereof. Plasticizer concentration in the final blend is 5% to 50% by weight and preferably from 5% to 20% by weight is preferred.

Modified starches could also be used in this invention. By modified it is meant that the starch can be derivatized or modified by typical processes known in the art, e.g., esterification, etherification, oxidation, acid hydrolysis, crosslinking and enzyme conversion. Typically, modified starches include esters, such as the acetate and half-esters of dicarboxylic acids, particularly the alkenylsuccinic acids; ethers, such as the hydroxyethyl and hydroxypropyl starches and cationic starches such as starch modified with 2-diethylaminoethyl chloride (DEC) and starch modified with quaternary ammonium reagents such as 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride; starches oxidized with hypochlorite; starches reacted with crosslinking agents such as phosphorus oxychloride, epichlorohydrin, and phosphate derivatives prepared by reaction with sodium or potassium orthophosphate or tripolyphosphate and combinations thereof. These and other conventional modifications of starch are described in publications such as “Starch: Chemistry and Technology”, Second Edition, Edited by Roy L. Whistler, et al., chapter X; Starch Derivations: Production and Uses by M. W. Rutenberg, et al., Academic Press, Inc. 1984.

Examples of biodegradable polyester polymers include poly(caprolactone) (PCL), poly(vinylacetate-co-vinylalcohol) (PVAc/VA), poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA), poly(glycolic acid) or polyglycolide (PGA), and related copolyesters including the various combinations of stereoisomers, bacterial and synthetic poly(-hydroxybutyrate) poly(.beta.-hydroxybutyrate-co-.beta.-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/V), and other poly(.beta.-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA), and aliphatic-aromatic biodegradable polyesters such as ECOFLEX™.

In forming starch-polyester graft copolymers of this invention, the selected starch starting material is preferably reacted with biodegradable polyester polymers in the presence of maleic anhydride or maleic acid or mixtures thereof, which functions as a trans-esterification catalyst.

The maleic anhydride and/or its hydrolyzed acid counterpart is combined with the starch or the plasticized starch in an amount of from about 0.1 to 10% by weight of anhydride (or acid) and preferably about 0.5 to 4% anhydride (or acid) based on the dry weight of starch. The anhydride or hydrolyzed acid is usually added in the form of a fine powder and is co-extruded with the biodegradable polyester by adding it directly to the extruder. In the case of using maleated starches, maleic anhydride already present in the system functions as a catalyst and hence there is no need to add again. Other organic diacids or anhydrides can be used as described in our copending application.

While any starch may be used in this invention as noted previously, the starch materials that are particularly useful in this invention are corn, potato, tapioca and high amylose starch; i.e., starch containing at least 40% by weight and preferably at least 65% by weight of amylose. Further preferred are the starches that are modified by maleation, especially using maleic anhydride or maleic acid. Blends of two or more of the starch starting materials may be used as well as additive or synthetic compounds to improve properties such as water resistance, strength, flexibility, color, etc.

The apparatus used in carrying out the extrusion process can be any screw type extruder. While the use of a single or twin screw extruder can be used, it is preferred to use a twin-screw extruder. Such extruders will typically have rotating screws in a horizontal cylindrical barrel with an entry port mounted over one end and a shaping die mounted at the discharge end. When twin screws are used, they may be co-rotating and intermeshing or non-intermeshing. Each screw will comprise a helical flight or threaded sections and typically will have a relatively deep feed section followed by a tapered transition section and a comparatively shallow constant-depth meter section. The motor driven screws, generally fit snugly into the cylinder or barrel to allow mixing, heating and shearing of the material as it passes through the extruder.

Control of the temperature along the length of the extruder barrel is important and is accomplished in zones along the length of the screw. Heat exchange means, typically a passage such as a channel, chamber or bore located in the barrel wall, for circulating a heated media such as oil, or an electrical heater such as calrod or coil type heaters, are often used. Additionally, heat exchange means may also be placed in or along the shaft of the screw device.

Variations in any of the elements used in the extruder can be made as desired in accordance with conventional design practices. A further description of extrusion and typical design variations can be found in “Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering”, Volume 6, 1986, pp. 571 to 631.

In carrying out the extrusion process, temperatures in the extruder vary depending on the particular material, desired properties and application. They generally range from about 100° C. to 250° C., and preferably will range from about 150° C. to 210° C. The total moisture content of the starch in the extruder, i.e., moisture present in the inlet feed starch as well as water in the aqueous anhydride and/or acid, is about 25% or less by weight, based on the weight of starch. More particularly, the total moisture content of the starch ranges from about 8 to 25% preferably about 10 to 21% and more preferably from about 15 to 21% by weight, based on the weight of starch.

Further, the starch-polyester graft copolymers can be manufactured in a one-step process; wherein the starch is first plasticized in a first section of the extruder followed by addition of the polyester along-with a trans-esterification catalyst to form the starch-polyester graft copolymer. Further, starch can be maleated using maleic anhydride or maleic acid in the presence of glycerol plasticizer in the first section of the extruder, followed by addition of the polyester downstream to form the starch-polyester graft copolymer.

By utilizing the starch-polyester graft copolymer, the overall processing temperature can be reduced to well below the processing temperature of the pure polyester component. This is particularly important for manufacturing with high-melting polyesters such as PHB and PHB/V, which thermally degrade at higher processing temperatures and therefore have a narrower processing window. This improvement is attributed to the compatibility achieved by the reactive blending process, resulting in changes in the crystalline microstructure of the polyester component and/or the morphology of the multi-phase material thereby rendering it processable at lower processing temperatures. It is important that the compounds be compatible.

The compositions of the present invention can retain their biodegradability if a degradable polyester polymer is used. The water resistance of the starch and modified starches is improved by graft copolymerization with high molecular weight biodegradable polyesters, especially with semi-crystalline polyesters such as PCL or PHB/V, and similar biodegradable polyesters. This is further achieved by engineering the appropriate blend composition, through the choice of polyester, starch and plasticizer.

The present invention can be processed by various methods known in the art, such as extrusion pelletizing, injection molding, and film forming. For example, the starch-polyester graft copolymer compositions made in accordance with the present invention can be injection molded to give a variety of molded products, and extrusion cast or even solution cast to give translucent flexible films, as well as transparent films.

The following experimental examples demonstrate the utility of the present invention for forming biodegradable products containing a biodegradable starch or plasticized starch and biodegradable polyester in the presence of a trans-esterification catalyst.

Examples of materials made in accordance with the present invention in compost experiments confirm biodegradability.

EXAMPLE 1

The synthesis of ECOFLEX™(PBAT)—plasticized starch (PS) graft copolymers was accomplished in a twin-screw co-rotating CENTURY extruder using maleic acid as a trans-esterification catalyst. PS was produced by plasticization of regular corn-starch, obtained from Corn Products, Inc. (Chicago, Ill.) (moisture content of 12%) using glycerol (20-wt %) as a plasticizer in the same extruder. Maleic acid, obtained from Aldrich, was ground to a fine powder using a mortar and pestle and pre-blended with the ECOFLEX™ polyester (poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)), obtained from BASF (Germany)) before being fed to the feed port of the extruder. The concentration of maleic acid used was 1-wt % with respect to the total concentration. Meanwhile, PS, previously oven dried overnight at 50° C., was ground to a fine powder and fed using an external feeder to the feed port of the extruder. The feeder rates were adjusted accordingly to obtain a ratio of 70:30 (ECOFLEX™+Maleic acid): PS. The temperature profile is shown in FIG. 1 and Table 1, and the screw configuration used is shown in FIG. 2, respectively. In FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the entire screw configuration is divided into 3 sections; section 1 of 12.5 D distance followed by section 2 of 15.5 D distance and finally section 3 with 12 D distance. The vent port was kept open to remove unreacted maleic acid and water. The extruded strand was cooled using a water bath and pelletized in line.

TABLE 1 Extrusion Processing Conditions in the synthesis of ECOFLEX-(PS/CMPS) graft copolymers ZONE SET ACTUAL UNITS ZONE1 15 70 C. ZONE2 95 99 C. ZONE3 125 122 C. ZONE4 145 149 C. ZONE5 160 170 C. ZONE6 165 192 C. ZONE7 165 196 C. ZONE8 165 193 C. ZONE9 150 185 C. DIE 145 153 C. MELT TEMP. 153 C. MOTOR SPEED 254 RPM TORQUE 67 % PRESSURE 92 Psia FEEDER SPEED, CENTURY 135 % (Ecoflex + Maleic acid)  (~8 lb/hr) FEEDER SPEED, MINI % FEEDER SPEED, EXT (TPS) 0.80 % (3.4 lb/hr)

The resulting pellets were dried in an oven overnight at 75° C. The pellets were totally extracted in Dichloro methane using a Soxhlet extraction unit. The extracted graft copolymer solution was cast to form transparent films. FTIR analysis (FIG. 3) of the films confirmed reactivity and the true existence of a graft copolymer.

EXAMPLE 2

The procedure of Example 1 was followed using PCL™ (Poly (epsilon-caprolactone), obtained from Dow Chemical (Midland, Mich.); Molecular weight of 70,000 g/mol) polyester instead of ECOFLEX™. The resulting pellets were also dried in an oven overnight at 75° C. The pellets were totally extracted in Dichloro methane using a Soxhlet extraction unit. The extracted graft copolymer solution was cast to form transparent films. FTIR analysis of the films confirmed reactivity and the true existence of a graft copolymer.

EXAMPLE 3

The synthesis of starch-polyester graft copolymers was carried out as follows: Chemically modified plasticized starch (CMPS), produced by reactive extrusion processing of regular corn-starch, obtained from Corn Products (Chicago, Ill.), using maleic acid modifier, and glycerol (20-wt %) plasticizer as explained in the co-pending patent application was oven dried overnight at 75° C. and ground to a fine powder and fed using an external feeder to the feed port of the extruder. This composition is described in Applicants' co-pending application which is incorporated herein by reference. ECOFLEX™ was also fed to the feed port of the extruder using CENTURY™ feeder (Traverse City, Mich.). The feeder rates were adjusted accordingly to obtain a ratio of 70:30 (ECOFLEX: CMPS). The temperature profile and the screw configuration used are similar to Example 1. The vent port was kept open to remove unreacted maleic acid and water. The extruded strand was cooled using a water bath and pelletized in line. The pellets were dried in an oven overnight at 750° C., to remove surface moisture. The pellets were totally extracted in Dichloro methane using a Soxhlet extraction unit. The extracted graft copolymer solution was cast to form transparent films. FTIR analysis of the films (FIG. 4) confirmed reactivity and the true existence of a graft copolymer.

EXAMPLE 4

The synthesis of starch-polyester graft copolymers was carried out as follows: Chemically modified plasticized starch (CMPS), produced by reactive extrusion processing of regular corn-starch, obtained from Corn Products, using maleic acid modifier, BENTONE 166™ (BENTONE 166™ is an alkylaryl ammonium hectorite clay, obtained from Elementis Specialties, with greatly improved dispersibility characteristics. It provides excellent mechanical strength, flame retardancy and highly improved gas barrier properties) and glycerol (20-wt %) plasticizer as explained in the co-pending patent application was oven dried overnight at 75° C. and ground to a fine powder and fed using an external feeder to the feed port of the extruder. ECOFLEX™ was also fed to the feed port of the extruder using the CENTURY™ feeder. The feeder rates were adjusted accordingly to obtain a ratio of 70:30 (ECOFLEX: CMPS). The temperature profile and the screw configuration used are similar to Example 1. The vent port was kept open to remove maleic acid and water. The extruded strand was cooled using a water bath and pelletized in line. The pellets were dried in an oven overnight at 75° C., to remove surface moisture.

EXAMPLE 5

The synthesis of starch-polyester graft copolymers was carried out as follows: Chemically Modified plasticized starch (CMPS), produced by reactive extrusion processing of regular corn-starch, obtained from Corn Products, using maleic acid modifier, BENTONE 111™ (BENTONE 111™ is an organic derivative of a special smectite clay, obtained from Elementis Specialties. It provides excellent mechanical strength, flame retardancy and highly improved gas barrier properties) and glycerol (20-wt %) plasticizer as explained in the co-pending patent application was oven dried overnight at 75° C. and ground to a fine powder and fed using an external feeder to the feed port of the extruder. ECOFLEX™ was also fed to the feed port of the extruder using CENTURY™ feeder. The feeder rates were adjusted accordingly to obtain a ratio of 70:30 (ECOFLEX: CMPS). The temperature profile and the screw configuration used are similar to Example 1. The vent port was kept open to remove maleic acid and water. The extruded strand was cooled using a water bath and pelletized in line. The pellets were dried in an oven overnight at 75° C., to remove surface moisture.

EXAMPLE 6

The procedure given in Example 3 was followed using polycaprolactone (PCL) polyester instead of ECOFLEX™. The resulting pellets were also dried in an oven overnight at 75° C. The pellets were totally extracted in dichloromethane using a Soxhlet extraction unit. The extracted graft copolymer solution was cast to form transparent films. FTIR analysis of the films confirmed reactivity and the true existence of a graft copolymer.

EXAMPLE 7

ECOFLEX™ and cross-linked ECOFLEX™ (Cross-linked using a free radical initiator) were melt extruded with PS and CMPS in different proportions according to the procedure as explained in Example 3. All the samples were extracted in dichloromethane using a Soxhlet apparatus. The results of the extraction are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Soxhlet Extraction results of ECOFLEX-CMPS graft copolymers Polyester Starch (Ecoflex component or (PS or LEcoflex) CMPS) initially initially Material present present extracted % System (gm) (gm) (gm) Extracted Ecoflex/CMPS 1.3510 0.579 1.8878 98 (70/30; w/w) Ecoflex/CMPS 1.0682 0.7122 1.7010 96 (60/40; w/w) Ecoflex/CMPS 0.7998 0.7998 0.7503 47 (50/50; w/w) Ecoflex/CMPS 0.8639 0.5759 0.5513 38.2 (40/60; w/w) Ecoflex/CMPS 1.9018 0.8150 2.6530 98 (70/30; w/w) No Initiator used in the preparation of CMPS. Ecoflex/PS 1.2075 0.5175 1.2595 71 (70/30; w/w) LEcoflex/CMPS 3.25 1.748 4.1272 83 (65/35; w/w) LEcoflex/PS 1.0225 0.4382 1.0602 73 (70/30; w/w)

As seen from Table 2, almost complete extraction is achieved for ECOFLEX™/CMPS (70/30 w/w and 60/40 w/w) graft copolymers. When this solution was cast, a transparent film was obtained. This proves that ECOFLEX™ and CMPS are covalently linked making the graft copolymer extractable in Dichloromethane (solvent wherein ECOFLEX™ is soluble, but PS is not). However, due to the insolubility of PS in the solvent, the graft copolymer forms a colloidal dispersion and not a clear transparent solution.

This result is applicable even to blends containing CMPS made with no peroxide (see row 6 in Table 2). However, for the 50/50 and 40/60 blends, only 47% and 38% respectively (close to the respective ECOFLEX™ amount) were extracted out. This confirms the fact that ECOFLEX™ has not reacted with CMPS. Thus, the reaction is also dependent on the relative amounts of the polyester and CMPS phases present. Also, from Table 2 (rows 7 and 9), it is clearly seen that when PS is used instead of CMPS, there is very minimal or no reaction taking place. This suggests that the reaction between the hydroxyl groups in starch and the ester functionalities in ECOFLEX™ occurs only in the presence of a trans-esterification catalyst such as maleic acid. When ECOFLEX™ polyester was cross-linked and reactively blended with CMPS, around 83% of the polyester was extracted out. This could be due to the fact that certain gel (network) portions of the cross-linked polyester are impermeable to chemical reaction.

EXAMPLE 8

Several graft copolymer samples, prepared using both PS and CMPS according to procedures explained in Examples 1, 3, 4 and 5 were extruded into films. Films were made using a Killion™ (Pawcatuck, Conn.) single-screw blown film unit. The screw diameter was 25.4 mm with L: D ratio of 25:1. The die inner diameter was 50.8 mm with a die gap size of 1.5 mm. The blown film processing conditions are shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Blown Film Processing Conditions for ECOFLEX-(PS/CMPS) graft copolymers Set (°F.) 70 350 355 360 360 395 395 300 Actual (°F.) 73 351 358 357 360 380 395 300 Melt (° F.) 364 Screw Speed (RPM) 12.4 FPM (ft/min) 5-6 Pressure (psi)  500-1000

Tensile properties of the films were determined using INSTRON™ Mechanical Testing Equipment fitted with a 100 lbs load cell. The crosshead speed was 1 inch per minute. Rectangular film samples, 4′×1′ dimension were conditioned at 23° C. and 50% Relative Humidity for 40 hours before being tested according to ASTM D-882 testing. The results of the testing are shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. It is observed that the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity values of ECOFLEX™-PS graft copolymer, containing around 30% PS, exhibit almost a six fold decrease as compared to pure ECOFLEX™ polyester values. However, ECOFLEX™/CMPS graft copolymers and cross-linked ECOFLEX™ (ECOFLEX)/CMPS graft copolymers exhibit tensile values comparable to LDPE. Also, on incorporation of clay in the production of Ecoflex™/CMPS, the film tensile strength further improves to about 2800-3000 psi (twice as much as ECOFLEX™/CMPS). Break elongation values of the graft copolymer are higher than ECOFLEX™ and LDPE. Tear and Puncture properties, determined according to ASTM D1922 and ASTM F1306 respectively, were found to be comparable to LDPE. (Table 4)

TABLE 4 Tear and Puncture properties of ECOFLEX-CMPS (70/30) graft copolymer Tear (g) Tear (g) Puncture Puncture MD CMD Max. (lb_(f)) Ext. (in) ASTM ASTM ASTM ASTM Material Thickness (in) D1922 D1922 F1306 F1306 LDPE 0.0010-0.0015 100-300 — 1.5-3.0 — Ecoflex- 0.0010-0.0015 767.7 802.7 1.515 0.6219 MTPS (70/30) graft copolymer

The above examples demonstrate that the present invention provides new starch-based graft copolymers which utilize agricultural resources that can be returned back to nature in an environmentally sound manner. The polymeric materials made in accordance with the present invention are environmentally compatible, this being achieved by designing and engineering fully biodegradable materials that are thermoplastic, yet breakdown under appropriate environmental conditions in a manner similar to their lignocellulosic counterparts.

It is intended that the foregoing description be only illustrative of the present invention and that the present invention be limited only by the hereinafter appended claims. 

1. A melt extruded starch-polyester graft copolymer composition comprising: (a) a melt extruded, thermoplastic, pre-plasticized starch which is pre-plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol and a dibasic organic acid and (b) segments of an aliphatic-aromatic polyester grafted onto the pre-plasticized starch, the aliphatic-aromatic polyester comprising

where a, b, and m are 2 to 8, and x/y is between 3/2 and 10/1; wherein the copolymer composition is formed by melt extruding a reaction mixture of the pre-plasticized starch and the polyester, the reaction mixture having been extruded with heating and venting of water and unreacted dibasic organic acid from the reaction mixture.
 2. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the polyhydric alcohol is present in an amount from about 0.5% to 25% by weight relative to the copolymer composition.
 3. The copolymer composition of claim 1 containing natural or an organically modified nanoclay.
 4. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the starch is selected from the group consisting of corn, potato, wheat, rice, sago, tapioca, waxy maize, sorghum, cassava, and high amylose starch.
 5. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the pre-plasticized starch is prepared from: the starch in an amount from 50% to 80% by weight relative to the pre-plasticized starch, the dibasic organic acid in an amount from 0.5% to about 10% by weight relative to the pre-plasticized starch, the polyhydric alcohol in an amount from 10% to 50% by weight relative to the pre-plasticized starch, and optionally a free radical initiator in an amount ranging between 0.01% to 2.0% by weight relative to the pre-plasticized starch.
 6. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the pre-plasticized starch is prepared from: the starch in an amount from 50% to 80% by weight relative to the pre-plasticized starch, maleic acid as the dibasic organic acid in an amount from 0.5% to about 10% by weight relative to the pre-plasticized starch, the polyhydric alcohol in an amount from 10% to 50% by weight relative to the pre-plasticized starch, and a nanoclay in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 25% by weight relative to the pre-plasticized starch.
 7. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the polyester is present in an amount from 50% to 90% by weight relative to the copolymer composition.
 8. The copolymer composition of claim 1 further comprising a free radical initiator for the melt extruding of the reaction mixture of the pre-plasticized starch and the polyester.
 9. The copolymer composition of claim 1 further comprising a free radical initiator which is a peroxide for the melt extruding of the reaction mixture of the pre-plasticized starch and the polyester mixture.
 10. The copolymer composition of claim 1 further comprising a nanoclay selected from a group consisting of montmorillonite, smectite, hectorite, and mixtures thereof.
 11. The copolymer composition of claim 1 which is completely biodegradable.
 12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the reaction mixture has been melted and extruded at a temperature in the range of 100° C.-200° C. in an extruder having twin screws.
 13. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the pre-plasticized starch is present in an amount from about 5% to 90% by weight relative to the copolymer composition.
 14. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the starch before it is pre-plasticized is an unmodified, oxidized or thin boiling starch of 0 to 95 degree of fluidity.
 15. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the starch before it is pre-plasticized has moisture content of about 0.5% to 15% by weight.
 16. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the pre-plasticized starch is in a pulverized form.
 17. The copolymer composition of claim 1 wherein the dibasic organic acid is selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, succinic acid, itaconic acid, phthalic acid and mixtures thereof.
 18. A process for the preparation of a starch polyester graft copolymer composition, the process comprising: melt extruding in a screw-type extruder a mixture of (a) a pre-plasticized starch which is pre-plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol and a dibasic organic acid, and (b) an aliphatic-aromatic polyester at a temperature which grafts the segments of the polyester onto the pre-plasticized starch to form the copolymer composition, and heating and venting water and unreacted dibasic organic acid from the mixture while melt extruding the mixtures wherein the aliphatic-aromatic polyester comprises

where a, b, and m are 2 to 8, and x/y is between 3/2 and 10/1.
 19. The process of claim 18 wherein the melt extruding of the mixture is performed at a temperature between about 100 to 200° C.
 20. The process of claim 18 or 19 wherein the dibasic acid is maleic acid.
 21. The process of claim 18 or 19 wherein the dibasic acid is produced in situ while melt extruding of the mixture by reaction of an organic anhydride with water contained in the starch.
 22. The process of claim 18 or 19 wherein in addition a peroxide initiator is mixed into the mixture.
 23. The process of claim 18 wherein in addition a nanoclay is in the mixture. 